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Truck Force Turns a Corner

Goodyear Dunlop’s detractors would have the truck tyre market believe that there are serious problems in the company’s commercial vehicle department. Goodyear Dunlop UK, managing director, Mark Brickhill, however, paints quite a different picture. In a recent interview with Tyres & Accessories (to be published in our August magazine) Brickhill gave details of progress in the truck business. Firstly, Brickhill told T&A that Truck Force is already showing signs of being a turnaround success story.

Since the commercial vehicle retail arm separated from the HiQ passenger retail business, and the two chains were each allowed to follow strategies tuned to the respective business areas, both operations appear to be better off. Perhaps the best sign of this is the fact that Truck Force, which was once a significantly loss making operation, is now at breakeven and on schedule to enter profit in 2009. But this doesn’t tell the whole story. From Mark Brickhill’s point of view, the fact that Truck Force has evolved into a service-led operation has had much to do with its improved performance.

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Board ‘Split’ on Takeover

The Schaeffler Group’s 11.2 billion euro bid for Continental AG has led to significant unrest amongst board members. According to various news sources, a rift has developed between chairman Hubertus von Grünberg and other executives. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung went as far as saying that CEO Manfred Wennemer would be willing to step down in order for management board member Dr Karl-Thomas Neumann to take his place. Continental’s press department denied that this was the case.

The dissension appears to centre on Hubertus von Grünberg’s criticism of senior executives’ confrontational way of refusing Schaeffler’s offer. According to the Finanacial Times, his argument is that Schaeffler has pretty much succeeded in its bid by getting control of 36 per cent of Conti shares and that too much of a struggle could result in the break up of the company.

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess Opens Qingdao Rubber Research Centre

China’s Qingdao region is firmly established as a tyre and rubber product manufacturing region of growing significance, and in recent years numerous domestic and global operators have set up facilities there. Newly added to the list of companies with a presence in Qingdao is chemical producer Lanxess, who on July 17 opened a joint operated rubber research centre. Established in cooperation with Qingdao’s University of Science and Technology (QUST), the Rubber Research Center (RRCQ) will conduct work for the company’s Technical Rubber Products, Butyl Rubber and Performance Butadiene Rubbers business units. Lanxess has invested 10 million euros in the centre’s establishment.

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Research Head to Speak at Asia Tire Conference

The Director of Bridgestone’s tyre research division has been confirmed as a guest speaker at the Asia Tire Conference. Dr. Yukio Nakajima, who has been with the Japanese manufacturer for 25 years, is responsible for tire research, tire indoor testing, and advanced tire technology. After graduating from Kyoto University and receiving a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Akron, Nakajima has contributed significantly to research on tyre noise, snow traction, tyre-related Computer-Aided Engineering, durability, manoeuvrability, the reduction of vehicle noise and wear. He has published papers and presented at conferences regularly, in addition to completing 17 patent applications.

The Asia Tire Conference will take place at the San Want Hotel in Shanghai, China on 18-19 September, 2008 and will also include The 2nd China Tire Market Development Strategy Seminar. The latest forecasts show that Asia will own a quarter automobile of the world in 2015. With the sustained rise of China’s automobile sector, the country has become the world’s fastest-growing market. This makes the conference an important and potentially enlightening event in the tyre industry’s calendar.

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Old Versus New

When it comes to the low rolling resistance debate, the gloves are off. This is particularly the case amongst the world’s leading tyre manufacturers, who each have their own brand of high-level tyre technology to offer, but are very much at odds about the benefits and theoretical pay-offs their tyres’ exhibit. In July’s Tyres & Accessories we examined Michelin’s argument that it’s all a question of technology. Or to put it another way, there needn’t be a pay-off between strong wet braking performance and low rolling resistance characteristics if you research and development department is sufficiently advanced. Until recently this concept had been taken as read, but Michelin’s various generations of Energy saver tyres claim to have out-teched this dichotomy.

Last month there was something of a disagreement between Michelin and Bridgestone with regard to the energy saving properties of their tyres. The “discussion” followed tyre test results in the French press, which found that there was “no significant difference” between fuel consumption results on the two manufacturer’s truck and bus tyres. This month Tyres & Accessories reports from the ContinentalSafetyExperience – a showcase of Conti’s latest technology including the chance to see the company’s response to the pay-off question in action. Continental was demonstrating its technologies as part of a ContiSafetyExperience event, which the company held at the OAMTC (Austrian AA equivalent) centre in Teesdorf, Austria.

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Beissbarth Extends Warranties

Offering an extended warranty is just another way of extending customer services and demonstrating confidence in quality says Beissbarth UK’s managing director Philip Hodges. The company has just announced that it is extending its UK warranties to two years on all wheel aligners, wheel balancers and air conditioning units.

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Expresses ‘No Interest’ in Conti Acquisition

Pirelli & C SpA has distanced itself from speculation over the potential sale of Continental AG or its tyre division. The Italian company, who along with Bridgestone and Yokohama has been named as a possible contender for Conti, denies any such acquisition is planned or desired. On July 17 a Pirelli spokesperson stated “we have had no direct or indirect contact and have no interest in either Continental or its tyre division.”

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli President Not a Spy, Concludes Probe

A probe into spying allegations in Italy, in which 20 were arrested on suspicion of revealing confidential phone records, has exonerated Pirelli’s president, Marco Tronchetti Provera, from any wrongdoing. Tronchetti Provera had been chairman at Telecom Italia, the organisation which held the records in question, when Pirelli had a controlling stake in the telecommunications operation.

Following the probe’s conclusions, Pirelli and Telecom Italia have stated separately that they are in fact the injured parties. Tronchetti Prevera himself has apologised for the actions of the company under his stewardship, say Italian news sources, calling the spying activities the work of a small minority of “bad eggs”. The probe is continuing to investigate, and will bring proceedings against any party conforming to this malodorous elliptical description.

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Names Logica as Applications Service Partner

UK based IT and business services company Logica has been selected as Michelin’s applications services partner for its Finance and Purchase Reporting Group, Supply Chain Management, Marketing and Sales (Customer Relationship Management) and Demand to Cash operations across Europe and North America. The three-year contract, which has the further option of being renewed for an additional three years, includes consulting services and systems implementation.

According to Logica, the partnership will – in addition to improving cost and quality performance – deliver enhanced operating efficiency and more responsive, flexible information systems. The contract, reports Logica, will draw upon its ‘blended delivery’ model, through which the optimal IT resources from Logica’s worldwide service centres will be allocated.

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Signs 3-Year A1GP Tyre Contract

Michelin is the new exclusive tyre partner to A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, starting with the 2008/09 season. The French manufacturer has signed a three-year contract and replaces Cooper Tire, which had produced A1GP’s control tyres since the series’ inception in 2005.

In a statement announcing the news, A1GP said Michelin tyre technicians had been working hard on the new project. A1GP’s new “Powered by Ferrari” car has reportedly clocked up over 4,000 kilometres on tracks in Italy and Spain on Michelin tyres since its first run in Fiorano in late May.

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyota Becomes Canadian Retailer of Conti Products

Continental has expanded its retail presence in Canada following the signing of an agreement with Toyota. Both Continental and General branded passenger car and light commercial tyres will be sold through 239 Toyota and 30 Lexus dealerships across Canada.

“This agreement gives Toyota and Lexus customers access to our catalogue of passenger and light truck tyres and helps to increase our retail presence without compromising our existing tyre dealer network,” said Guy Hardiman, General Manager of Continental Tire Canada.

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Win Prizes In Unipart/NGK Promotion

Car parts supplier Unipart Automotive has teamed up with NGK to give away thousands of pounds worth of mystery prizes to workshops across the UK in an exciting lambda sensors promotion.

For every NGK lambda sensor bought at Unipart Automotive during August and September, workshops will receive a pack of NGK Playtime Cards, some of which will contain hidden lucky cards. If your pack includes a lucky prize card then you could be in with a chance of winning an ipod Nano, a Nintendo Wii, a 60 inch HD plasma screen TV with a Sony PS3 games console or one of 200 other mystery prizes.

18th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Brickhill: Supporting Employees in the Community Drives Success

Goodyear Dunlop UK Group Managing Director, Mark Brickhill, has reinforced the company’s commitment to community projects, and has encouraged all employers to seek the benefits that come from supporting their employees in voluntary activity.

Brickhill was speaking following a garden party at Buckingham Palace in honour of the centenary of the Territorial Army which was attended by 6000 guests, including the HRH The Earl of Wessex and HRH The Princess Royal. Over four hundred TA Reservists were invited along to pay tribute to their employers by taking them to this very special event. The Goodyear Dunlop MD had been invited by John Braybrook, Wholesale Manager for the company, who returned from TA assignment in Afghanistan last year.

18th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Launches ‘Petrolhead Haven’

According to the tyre manufacturer, the Dunlop Drivers Club stand was one of Goodwood Festival of Speed’s highlights. As Goodwood sponsors, Dunlop Tyres brought Sir Stirling Moss back together with the C-Type Jaguar that he drove in 1953 and heard his fascinating thoughts on the introduction of Dunlop-invented disc-brakes and how life has changed for racing drivers over the last 60 years.

However, those that missed the live action at Goodwood can head to the newly launched web portal, www.dunlopdriversclub.co.uk where Dunlop will share their 120 years of experience on the road and track with driving and motorsport fans across the globe.

18th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo First Quarter Revenues up 15%

Apollo Tyres Ltd has reported that it achieved consolidated first quarter revenues of 13.2 billion rupees (£155 million), up 15 per cent from 11.5 billion rupees during the same period last year. During the same period, consolidated net post tax profit grew 7.3 per cent to 586.6 million rupees (£6.87 million).

Commenting on the results, Onkar S Kanwar, chairman & managing director, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said: “These are probably one of the most challenging times we have faced as a company.”

18th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors